O’Neill: Farming means to care for others, a love of neighbor and land

Casey O’Neill is a farmer and owner of Happy Day Farms in Laytonville, Calif. The opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the views of The Mendocino Voice. If you’d like to write your own column for The Mendocino Voice, send your idea to info@mendovoice.com.

I’ve been thinking about the ways we build connection, the joys of interacting and gathering, the effort that it takes to build shared humanity. Community is both love and work, perhaps in equal measures. It takes showing up, even when we’re tired or grumpy, or it’s hot and there’s too much to do. We show up for each other; as the saying goes, “When your friends need help, you help ‘em.”